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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The Failed State of Conservatism

Democratic consultant Paul Begala's Newsweekarticle in the The Daily Beast, "Dysfunction Junction, Why the GOP resembles a failed state," is another recent confirmation of the illegitimacy of the failed institution of Conservatism:

"The Beltway Republicans need to call Kofi Annan. The former U.N. chief has of late been specializing in trying to salvage failed states. And a failed state is what the GOP has become nationally.

“'Failed state' is the international wonks’ term for a nation that no longer functions as a legitimate country. That’s not to be confused with a 'rogue state' like North Korea, which functions, albeit in the pursuit of psycho evil. A failed state can’t even succeed at purposeful harm. But in its impotence, a failed state allows malevolent forces to thrive. The collapse of any authentic government breeds a Hobbesian war of all against all. Think of the Democratic Republic of the Congo—which is neither democratic nor a republic. Or Somalia. The kinds of countries Anderson Cooper reports from.

"...(O)ther tests in the Fund for Peace’s Failed State Index sound as if they were written with Boehner’s bunch in mind:

“'Mounting demographic pressures.'Republicans have lost ground among Latinos, Asian-Americans, single women, and younger voters. At this rate, in another quarter century they’ll be left with no one but Clint Eastwood and his chair.

“'Delegitimization of the state.' That’s kind of the entire point of modern Republicanism, isn’t it?

“'Uneven economic development along group lines.' Check.

“'Severe economic decline.' Check.

“'Rise of factionalized elites. Are you kidding me? The country clubbers hate the Tea Partiers, the neocons hate the traditionalists, the libertarians distrust the religious right; this isn’t a political party, it’s Yugoslavia circa 1991.

“'Deterioration of public services.' When the red states of Mississippi and Louisiana were devastated by Katrina, Democrats voted in overwhelming numbers to send tens of billions of dollars in federal relief within days. Two months after Hurricane Sandy ravaged New York and New Jersey, House Republicans couldn’t be bothered to vote on aid until they were publicly spanked by New Jersey’s Republican governor, Chris Christie.

“'Suspension or arbitrary application of law; widespread human-rights abuses.' This is not even fully metaphorical. Lawrence Wilkerson, who was Colin Powell’s chief of staff in the Bush administration, has said Dick Cheney is worried about being tried for war crimes. (Cheney, it should be noted, has laughed off Wilkerson’s charge, calling it a cheap shot.)

“'Widespread vengeance-seeking group grievance.' That pretty much describes the Tea Party to a T. And the Club for Growth, and several other right-wing groups who would rather punish heretics than win converts.

"...When the fiscal-cliff deal was reached, Boehner took the extraordinary step of casting a vote for it—something Speakers only do when they really want to make a point. House Budget Committee chairman, Romney running mate, and Ayn Rand admirer Paul Ryan voted for the deal as well. No matter. Nearly two thirds of the House Republicans ignored their leader and voted against the deal—including the No. 2 and 3 House Republicans, Eric Cantor and Kevin McCarthy. No wonder the House is Chaosistan.

"The Senate Republicans are better, but not by much, and perhaps because they aren’t running the joint and so don’t have to actually pass bills. But they did disgrace themselves by blocking a treaty that would have encouraged the world to adopt American-style rights for the disabled. The treaty is based on the Americans With Disabilities Act, which was coauthored by Bob Dole and signed into law by George H.W. Bush. Despite the presence of Dole himself on the Senate floor, only eight Republican senators voted to ratify the treaty—and three of those eight were retiring. The treaty is now dead in the water.

"Meanwhile, Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas is threatening to shut down the government again—because that worked so well for the GOP against President Clinton. And others are still threatening global economic catastrophe by forcing the U.S. to default on its debt.

"...(I)f Washington Republicans get any worse, Ben Affleck and George Clooney might soon be raising global awareness about the failed state of the GOP."

If the "Washington Republicans" and their supporters "get any worse," the nation may finally wake up to the deliberate destruction of our democracy by the Conservative politicos.The "Delegitimization of the state...the entire point of modern Republicanism," indeed. And it comes awfully close to many definitions of treason or sedition - criminal activities that tie in with our Page, "Punishments" (go to http://www.criminalizeconservatism.com/p/punishments.html and scroll down), as well as Facebook Groups composed of progressive internet activists like the newly-formed "Sandy Hook Was A Plot To Sap And Impurify All Our Preious Bodily Fluids!" at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SandyHookTeagagging2385Whackos/.

From the pens of national commentators like Begala to the forums of average American news junkies and online activists, the sense that Conservatism is the "vast right-wing conspiracy" that Hillary Clinton described when the Conservatives decided that they could impeach her husband.Even yesterday's post from Politicususa.com, "Washington is ‘Broken’ Because Republicans Abandoned Any Pretense of Governing" is a clue that we are starting to wake up to the centuries-long criminality of the Conservative leaders and their shills in Congress and the State Houses. And we usually make the connection that criminality should be made illegal.